Site Mobile Navigation

World Cup Live: United States vs. Algeria

With a stoppage-time goal just moments away from World Cup elimination, Landon Donovan sent the United States into the knockout phase of South Africa 2010.

Donovan’s goal in the 91st minute gave the Americans a 1-0 victory over Algeria at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. It ended a day in which the Americans hit the goal post at least twice, were thwarted repeatedly by Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi, missed a number of open nets, and had what seemed like a good first-half goal nullified by an offside call.

With England winning their match against Slovenia, 1-0, the Americans faced elimination if they could not break the 0-0 tie with the Algerians. But Tim Howard started a four-on-two counterattack by finding Donovan down the right side. Donovan passed to Jozy Altidore, who relayed to Dempsey, whose point-blank shot was wonderfully stopped by the onrushing M’Bolhi. But Donovan was there to bury the rebound, and amid scenes of ecstatic celebration, the Americans were through to the tournament’s knockout phase.

The Americans finished at the top of Group C, followed by England. In the Round of 16, the United States will face Ghana, and England will play Germany.

My window is open here in Manhattan, and when the Americans scored, you could hear the roar in the street. I’ve never heard anything quite like that here, to be honest. I’m sure that’s what it was like everywhere across the US and wherever Americans were watching this game.

What a fantastic ending to this match — the Americans came close so many times and were stopped by the Algeria goalie, or fired wide, or, on one occasion, were thwarted by a mistaken offside call. But in the end, they won.

Right — I’m off to calm down, but in a happy way. To the Algerian fans, your team came close, and they can go home proud. To the US fans — congratulations! The Yanks are in … and yes, I actually do hear some church bells ringing. Gotta be for noon Mass, right?

Thanks to everyone for following along today and sending in your comments. Cheers!

The play was started by Howard, who unleashed an American counterattack, four-on-two. Altidore set up Dempsey in front, and M’Bolhi made an amazing charging save — but the fifth man breaking in, Donovan, buried! And the Americans go through to the knockout phase! They join England as the teams to emerge from Group C!

There was scramble in the Algeria box, an dDempsey gets up, bleeding from the nose — a stray arm from Yahia. The ESPN announcers say he deserves red for that, but I say no, inadvertent and not reckless. Anyway, Dempsey is off for repairs.

The Americans scored a goal that got called back (and Jeffrey Marcus has come around to agreeing that the goal should’ve counted: “That could have been onside. Yikes. These referees have a tough job.“) and came close so many more times. Yet here they are, tied at 0-0 … and facning elimination. They need a goal, or at the very least, they need Slovenia to equalize with England.

Jeffrey Marcus has also been listening to US fans’ reaction to Jonthan Bornstein’s work in the Amerk defense:

Jonathan Bornstein, pushing forward on the left, received a cross-field pass from Donovan, which he trapped and carried two steps inside. It was a sharp move and you can’t criticize his decision to venture a shot from outside the box. But his right-footed knuckleball went so far wide, across the goalmouth, it was almost a throw-in. The player was booed… by his own fans (it’s not just Wayne Rooney). Not a lot of Bornstein supporters among Sam’s Army.

Jeffrey Marcus, at the stadium in Pretoria, has seen the TV replay of Dempsey’s nullified goal. He writes:

From a bit above, it looks as if Dempsey was even. But at field level, it looks like he’s ahead before Gomez plays the ball. The call isn’t as cut and dry as the US got cheated out of a goal. But I guess anything (like why, why start Jonathan Bornstein?) is open for debate.

Jeffrey Marcus at the stadium in Pretoria tells us he didn’t see the goal as being onside:

Before US fans start to cry conspiracy. I had a good look from the press tribune and Dempsey was offside. But more noteworthy was the leeway the referee, Frank DeBleekere of Belgium is giving the players. Altidore was victim of a tough challenge and went down (no call, perhaps he’s gaining a reputation). Bradley was victim of a sliding tackle (clean) that saw him lose the ball (and have it hit at him on the ground). But the time it fell to Gomez, the American fans in the crowd were out of breath from ooohing and aaaahing. When dempsey knocked in Gomez’s cross, it was almost too much. And it was. He was a hair offside. Credit DeBleekere for letting the play continue and jumping on his whistle reflexively.

And on the exit, Altidore tries to run it out all by himself rather than pass across field to Gomez, but the Algerians just take the ball away from young Altidore. He’s the youngest striker at this tournament, and his lack of nous showed there.

They show the replay, and Dempsey was level with Gomez when Gomez shot a second time and the ball went to him. He was NOT OFFSIDE when he scored — the American goal should have counted! A second good US goal nullified in as many matches!

After that disallowed goal. The Algerian defense all clustered around Bradley, leaving Gomez wide open. It seemed like an eternity before he shot, but M’Bolhi made himself big and made the first save. Still waiting for the replay to see if Dempsey really was offside.

A scramble in front! Bradley was tackled well at the edge of the box, but the ball rolled to Gomez! His first shot blocked by the goalie! His second went to Dempsey, who stuck it in the net — but he was ruled offside!

Bob Bradley benched Oguchi Onyewu, moving Carlos Bocanegra from the left to center in order to make room for Jonathan Bornstein. A curious choice, based on the guffaws, groans and squeaks of surprise in the media room when the team sheets were passed out. Bornstein brings speed and a maddening propensity for fouling players in the box. Onyewu’s fitness had been a question going in to the tournament, but he proved capable against England and active in the game with Algeria. But in both games, he was caught out of position in the back, leading to early goals by the opposition.

Robbie Findley is suspended. The forward who started both earlier games racked up two yellow cards. Herculez Gomez is starting in his stead.

These two changes signal a more attacking mindset early. The Americans must start strong

Algeria too has indicated it’s playing to win outright, by scoring goals. The Desert Foxes can’t afford anything less. Three backs, led by Anther Yahia, the captain will support a wide open midfield with Kadir Foued and Nadir Belhadj on the wings. Belhadj is battle tested and could be involved in a number of plays going forward as either an architect or target. The two Karims — Matmour and Ziani — are playing in advanced midfield/withdrawn forward positions. Both play in Germany, Matmour on Borussia Mochengladbach with U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley. Bradley talked about how dangerous Matmour can be with the ball at his feet and what a lethal pro Ziani is at Wolfsburg.

Rafik Djebbour will be active as a lone striker. Look for Jay Demerit to take primary responsibility for defending him.

The atmosphere here is vuvuzela-liscious. The east side of the stadium is Algerian, the west is American. The endzones are a bit empty, surprisingly. If I had to gauge the crowd, the edge is to the North Africans.

But it’s caught by goalie M’Bolhi, playing for Algeria for only the third time. He replaced Chaouchi, who made the mistake that conceded the goal in the opening 1-0 loss to Slovenia. Chaouchi wanted to start today, but Coach Saadane said no, you’ve got to earn back your spot. That I learned from reading Le Buteur, the French-language Algerian soccer magazine. Aren’t I bright?

You can feel the nerves as the teams march out of the tunnel! Here are the anthems! The Star Spangled Banner first … the coaching staff sings … Dempsey with eyes closed and hand over heart… Michael Bradley sings with hand over heart … Donovan staring ahead intently … Bocanegra looking dashing and relaxed as always, singing. It ends, and a big ovation!

Now the Algerian anthem … most of the players not singing, but you can hear many people in the stands singing along … coach Saadane singing, he was running the team the last time they were in the World Cup, in 1986 … goalkeeper M’Bolhi sings lustily. It ends! Cheering and vuvuzelas!

Radu Sigheti/ReutersA United States fan cheered before Wednesday’s match against Algeria.

These are the lyrics to “Kassaman,” the Algerian anthem (it means “We Pledge”). Like the American anthem, it has a martial theme:

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the streams of generous blood being shed,
By the bright flags that wave,
Flying proudly on the high mountains,
That we have risen up, and whether we live or die,
We are resolved that Algeria shall live –
So be our witness -be our witness – be our witness!

Surprise in the lineup! For Coach Bob Bradley’s United States, a 4-4-2, with Herculez Gomez starting up front in place of Robbie Findley, who is suspended from the game because of a phantom handball call in the Slovenia match by error-prone ref Koman Coulibaly.

But more surprising – no Oguchi Onyewu in defense! Whether his surgically repaired knee is bothering him, or it’s simply a matter of him getting caught out of position on two of the three goals the Amerks have conceded so far, he’s out. Carlos Bocanegra moves into his spot in the middle, and Jonathan Bornstein comes on as an outside defender – a smart move, perhaps, because Bornstein has the speed to take on Algeria’s fast flank attackers.

Hello, labass, bonjour, ترحيبات and molweni, soccer fans around the world, and welcome to our live coverage of this huge contest — as well as to the England-Slovenia match, which my colleague Duncan Irving is describing live in a simultaneous post here on the Times soccer blog.

The U.S.-Algeria game is the first-ever meeting between these two countries, and it could hardly be more momentous. An American win puts the United States through to the knockout phase and the Algerians out of the tournament. But an Algerian win gives the Greens a good chance of reaching the knockout phase, while the Americans would go out. And if it ends in a draw, well, don’t even start.

I can’t help but believe that this match will hinge on one particular matchup: Landon Donovan, the Yanks’ relentless playmaking machine, vs. Nadir Belhadj, the fast left wingman who makes things happen for Algeria. They may be going head to head for much of the game, and it might look (and sound) like this:

vs.

What's Next

About

Goal, The New York Times soccer blog, will report on news and features from the world of soccer and around the Web. Times editors and reporters will follow international tournaments and provide analysis of games. There will be interviews with players, coaches and notable soccer fans, as well as a weekly blog column by Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore. Readers can discuss Major League Soccer, foreign leagues and other issues with fellow soccer fans.